“The proposed standards currently being considered in the United States—and even the strictest existing standards globally—are not based on the best available science,” said Dr. Rose. “While we maintain that no tank will ever be sufficient to allow marine mammals to thrive, within the article, we aimed to propose standards that would provide the absolute minimum needed to safeguard marine mammal welfare in captivity, while still being reasonable from an engineering perspective.”

“Even though the United States is among the world’s leaders in the number of wild animals trapped for their fur, trapping continues to be hidden from the public eye,” said Zuardo. “The article seeks to shed light on this subject and suggests efforts to overcome our country’s resistance to further trapping reforms.”